Clothes washing machine having a suspension system which serves as a liquid seal



March 27, 1962 BQCHAN ETAL 3,026,700

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING A SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHICH SERVES AS ALIQUID SEAL Filed 001;. 17, 1960 O O O O 0 00 Q I 11 Y INVENTORS J'OHNBOCHAN EICREIGHTON E. POOL THE. R ATTORNEY 3,@Zh,? Patented Mar. 27,1%52 3,026,700 CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVliNG A SUS- PEESMBN SYSTEMWHEH SERVES AS A LIQUID SE L John Bochan, Louisville, Ky., and CreightonE. Pool,

Charlestown, IndL, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporationof New York Filed Oct. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 63,005 6 Claims. (Cl. 68-23)This invention relates to centrifuging machines, and more particularlyto vertical axis washing machines wherein improved vibration-isolatingmeans are provided to prevent unbalance-caused vibrations of therotating parts from being transmitted to the casing of the machine tothe extent that damage to or walking of the machine may occur.

An object of our invention is to provide a washing machine having asuspension system which also serves to seal the liquid-containingportion of the system from the driving portion of the system.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a floormounted cabinetwith an imperforate tub formed within the cabinet. The tub includes ahorizontal support surface, and slidirrgly seated on this horizontalsupport surface is the continuous annular lower surface of an annularassembly. The assembly is biased to a substantially central position onthe support surface relative to the cabinet by any suitable means suchas, for instance, springs. Within the tub there is positioned a clothesbasket rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, the clothes basketthus constituting the centrifuging means of the structure. Means areprovided in the basket for washing clothes, and drive means below thebasket are connected to it so as to cause either washing of clothes inthe basket or rotation of the basket to centrifuge liquid out of theclothes. Above the drive means, but below the basket and coaxiallytherewith, there is provided a support member; the support member, drivemeans, and basket form together a moving system supported by the seatingof a continuous annular surface formed on the support member on acontinuous annular upper surface formed on the assembly. Both of theselast mentioned surfaces are formed as spherical surface portions havinga common center on the axis of rotation of the basket. With thisarrangement, the support member surface is slidingly supported on theassembly upper surface, relative sliding of the two surfaces causing atilting of the moving system relative to the assembly. The moving systemextends down through the annular assembly, and because of thepositioning of the drive means has its mass distributed low enough tocause its center of gravity always to fall at a point lower than thecenter of the spherical surface portions. This provides stability to thesystem by virtue of the fact that, with such a structure, the center ofgravity always moves up upon movement of the basket away from a verticalaxis and therefor always has a tendency to move back down and return thecontainer to its vertical axis.

The system as described provides all degrees of freedom except forpurely vertical movement which, as has been stated, is preferablyeliminated. In addition, our system has the substantial advantage thatthe horizontal support surface and the assembly lower surface formtogether a first liquid seal in the tub, and the support member surfaceand the assembly upper surface form together a second liquid seal in thetub. Thus, the structure which actually effects the support of themoving system on the rigid system also provides a liquid seal betweenthe two systems.

The features of my invention which we believe to be novel are set forthwith particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, both as to organization and method of operation together withfurther objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, the single figure is a side elevational view, partlybroken away and partly in cross section to show details, of acentrifuging machine, more particularly a vertical axis washing machine,incorporating the improved suspension system of our invention.

Referring now to the figure of the drawing, there is shown therein avertical axis centrifuging machine which, for illustrative purposes andbecause of the special additional advantages which are obtained therein,is depicted as a washing machine having a clothes basket 1 preferablyformed, as shown, as an inverted frustum of a cone. Basket 1 issubstantially imperforate except for openings or perforations 2 providedtherein at the largest diameter, i.e., adjacent the top thereof, the topof the clothes basket being formed as an inwardly extending flange 3defining a loading and unloading opening 4. Enclosing the basket 1 is aframe in the form of an appearance cabinet 4 which includes a base 5adapted to be seated on an appropriate floor, vertically extending walls6, and a lid 7 pivotable on a hinge 3. In closed position lid 7 coversan opening 9 provided to afford access to the interior of basket 1 sothat clothes may be inserted into and removed from the basket when thelid 7 is pivoted to an open position. Secured on the front wall 6 theremay be an appropriate control supporting structure itl on which there ismounted a conventional sequence control mechanism it manuallypresettable by means of a member 12 so as to provide a washingoperation. The side walls 6 of cabinet 4 and a member 13, which iscontinuously secured around its outer edge 1-?- to the side walls s,form together a liquidreceiving tub 14a within which the basket 1 ispositioned.

Within basket 1, suitable means are provided for effecting a circulatorymotion of water contained therein in order to effect washing of clothesplaced in the basket. In

the present case, these means comprise vanes 15 arranged to cause asuitable circulatory motion of water in the basket to effect washing ofthe clothes upon oscillation of basket it about a vertical axis. Itwill, of course, be recognized that a separate agitator device may beprovided extending up into the basket 1 as is the case with manycommercially available machines, but for simplicity of the explanationof the general structure the vanes 15 may be considered as typical.

The basket 1 is rigidly secured through an intermediate supportingflanged member 16 to a shaft 17 formed substantially coaxially withbasket 1 and extending downwardly into a driving and transmissionstructure generally indicated by the numeral 18. In the convention-a1manner, this structure may include a reversible motor 19: when motor 19is rotated in one direction, a transmission 20 transmits the motormovement to the shaft 17 so as to cause rotation of basket 1 at highspeed for centrifuging purposes; when the motor rotates in the oppositedirection the transmission 20 causes it to provide an oscillatory motionto the shaft 17. This oscillates the basket back and forth to causevanes 15 to circulate water therein in the appropriate manner forwashing purposes. Transmissions for effecting rotary motion of a shaftin one direction of rotation of the motor and an oscillatory motion ofthe shaft in the opposite direction of the motor are well known in theart, and therefore the transmission is not described in detail herein.

Conventional means for introducing water into the machine are provided.These are schematically shown in the present case by an inlet conduit 21leading into a valve 22 which controls flow of liquid through a conduit23 having an outlet 24 discharging into the basket 1. Of course, bothhot and cold water may be brought into the machine in this manner sothat hot, cold or warm (mixed )water may be used for any givenoperation. In order to discharge liquid from the machine, a suitablepump 25, which may be driven by any desired means such as a separateinotor 26, is secured to member 13 so as to have its inlet 27communicating with the lowest point in tub 14a. The pump 25 leadsthrough a suitable conduit 28 to an appropriate drain (not shown) sothat when removal of the water is desired (as during centrifugingoperations for instance) motor 26 may be energized to run pump 25 whichthen pumps water from the tub through inlet 27 and then through conduit28 to drain.

With the structure described thus far, a suitable sequence of operationsmay be provided in the machine. As one typical cycle, a liquid may beintroduced by energization of valve 22 for a period appropriate to fillbasket 1 to the desired level; then the motor 19 is energized in thedirection to cause basket 1 to oscillate back and forth to wash theclothes. After a predetermined period of this Washing action, the motor19 is reversed and the motor 26 is energized to cause, respectively, thebasket to rotate at a high centrifuging speed, and the pump to removethe liquid from the tub as it passes into the tub through openings 2 asa result of the high speed rotation of the basket. Following thisextraction operation, a supply of clean liquid may then be introducedinto the basket to rinse the clothes as the basket is once againoscillated. Finally, the basket may then be once more rotated at highspeed to extract the rinse water and discharge it through openings 2 forremoval from the tub by pump 25. All of these operations may be effectedautomatically in sequence by suitable connections from control 11 to theoperating components; the control of the components by a conventionalsequence control means is well known in the art and therefore is notfurther described herein.

Member 13 includes an annular horizontally extending surface 29 which,by virtue of vertically extending portion 30 of member 13, issubstantially above the lowest part of tub 14a. This insures that, whilea substantial amount of splashing may occur at the level of surface 29,the liquid level reached by water standing in the tub will normallyremain substantially below surface 29, the capacity of pump 25 beingsufficient to prevent the liquid from rising to level 29 as it is passedout through openings 2 during high speed rotation of basket 1.

The surface 29, as stated, is annular; it includes a central opening 30which is provided to accommodate in spaced relation the downwardlyextending assembly which includes shaft 17 passing from the basket 1down to the drive and transmission assembly 18. An annular assembly 32is provided which includes a continuous annular lower surface 33 and acontinuous annular upper surface 34. The lower surface 33 is formed soas to be flat, and therefore rests on the assembly 29 in slidablerelation thereto. The amount of friction which is provided between thesurfaces 29 and 33 is controlled by the composition of the two surfaces.In this connection the surface 33 is shown to be formed of a particulardamping material 35 such as for instance nylon. It will, however, berecognized that the damping materials selected may vary from a very highcoefficient of friction to a very low coefficient of friction, dependingon the amount of damping required or desired; the particular example ofnylon gives a relatively low coeflicient of friction, found to bedesirable where low critical speeds are involved. As the assembly 32moves horizontally on surface 29, material 35 has a damping orenergy-absorbing characteristic sufiicient to provide the desired amountof damping as the rotating basket 1 passes from a standstill up throughcritical speed during the high speed rotation part of the washingmachine cycle. Thus, assembly 32 is horizontally movable in alldirections rela- 4 tive to the surface 29, and, in addition, itinherently provides the desired amount of energy absorption as a resultof the sliding friction between the two surfaces.

As will be more fully discussed herebelow the surface 34 is formed as asurface portionof a sphere. Nested Within the surface 34 and supportedthereby is a member 36 having a spherical surface 37 and which forms apart of the moving, or suspended, system together with the container 1,shaft 17, and assembly 18. In the present case, the member 36 is securedto a downwardly extending sleeve member 38 which supports a bearing 39within which shaft 17 rotates and on which the flange member 1 6 issupported. At its lower end, the sleeve 38 provides the support for theassembly 18. Since supporting flange member 16 is rotatable at highspeed with basket 1, and since member 36 is not intended to be sorotated, suitable liquid sealing means such as packing 39 is preferablyprovided as shown.

Surfaces 34 and 37 are formed as part of a single sphere having itscenter on the axis of rotation of basket 1, so that in efiect the part36 may tilt, or rock, in any direction within the supporting assembly 32by virtue of sliding motion occurring between surfaces 37 and 34. In thesame manner as the surfaces 33 and 29, the surfaces may be formed ofappropriate material to provide the desired amount of damping for thesystem, and in this connection the surface 34 is shown as being formedof a suitable composition material. I

The weight distribution of the moving system is such that its center ofgravity is sufficiently low that upon tilting of the system (by movementof member 36 in assembly 32) the center of gravity will always move upupon movement of shaft 17 away from a vertical axis. This may readily beeffected by causing the assembly 18 to be positioned, as shown,substantially below the basket 1 and member 36, with the sleeve 38 andshaft 17 extending downwardly through the opening in annular assembly 32so as to join the basket to the assembly 18. With the structure shown,and with the assembly 18 having the mass conventional in suchstructures, the distribution of mass in the moving system insures that,even when hasket 1 is full of clothes and water, the center of gravityof the system will not rise above the center of the sphere of whichsurfaces 34 and 37 are a part. When this relationship is provided, itinsures stability of the system: when tilted away from a vertical axis,the system always tries to right itself because its center of gravitytends to move down to its lowest point and at its lowest point thesystem is in its desired vertical position.

Suitable means are necessary to establish correct horizontal positioningof the system since the system is made free to move in all horizontaldirections. In order to achieve this, relatively light coil springs 40and 41 (two or more, and preferably equisp'aced) are provided connectedat one end to lugs 42 extending from sleeve 38 and at the other end tolugs 43 which form a part of member 13. Since any horizontal movement ofassembly 32 away from the position shown, that is, a centered positionwithin cabinet 4, will cause compression of one of springs 40 and 41,and extension of another one of the springs, the springs tend to returnassembly 32 (and the moving system) to a horizontally centered position.In addition, springs 40 and 41 limit pivoting of the moving system abouta vertical axis without, however, preventing such movement.

In effect, when the drive system 18 is causing high speed rotation ofbasket 1 through shaft 17, horizontal movement occurs as a result ofsurface 33 of assembly 32 sliding on surface 29, with the two slidingsurfaces also providing the necessary damping as the speed passesthrough critical. Also, tilting movement in all directions occurs as aresult of the member 36 being supported within assembly 32 with surfaces37 and 34 providing additional damping as the device passes throughcritical speed. The combination of the two supporting arrangementsprovides in effect five degrees of freedom for the basket relative tothe cabinet 4 (two horizontal degrees of freedom, two degrees of freedomto pivot about horizontal axes, and one degree of freedom to pivot abouta vertical axis). This leaves only the vertical direction of movement inwhich no freedom is provided.

In addition to the desired vibration-isolating suspension and thedamping function performed by my structure, it provides another highlyimportant function when used in a Washing machine as depicted. It willbe noted that the member 32 is, in effect, a part of the boundingsurface of tub 14a so that, although the tub is preferably formed sothat surface 29 is above the highest liquid level reached in the tub,liquid will splash in the area of the member 32. In addition to theirother functions, surfaces 33 and 2? provide, by virtue of theircontinuous engagement with each other, a first liquid seal to preventwater in the tub from escaping and passing down onto the drive system18. The continuously engaging surfaces 34- and 37 provide a secondliquid seal which achieves the same desired function. Thus, the sealingbetween the tub, which is part of the stationary frame t, and the movingsystem is effected by the same structure which provides the vibrationisolating suspension and the damping effect.

It will be recognized that, while the preferred structure wherein thesurfaces 34 and 37 are concave relative to basket 1 is provided, it isalso possible to provide a structure wherein the two surfaces are convexrelative to the basket. The major efifect of such a change would be tolower the center point of rotation around which the spherical surfacesare formed, "and thereby to lower the highest point at which the centerof gravity of the moving system may be provided.

Thus, while in accordance with the patent statutes We have describedwhat at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifieations may be made therein without departing from theinvention, and we therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope ofour invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A vertical axis washing machine comprising: a floor mounted cabinet;an imperforate tub formed within said cabinet; means for draining liquidfrom said tub; means forming a horizontal support surface in said tub;an annular assembly having a continuous annular lower surface seated onsaid horizontal support surface in sliding relation thereto; meansbiasing said assembly to a substantially centered horizontal positionrelative to said cabinet; and a moving system including a clothes baskepositioned within said tub and rotatable on a substantially verticalaxis, means within said basket for washing clothes therein, drive meanspositioned below said basket and connected thereto, said drive meansbeing effective alternatively to cause washing of clothes in said basketand to cause rotation of said basket to centrifuge liquid out of theclothes therein, and a support member positioned above said drive meansand beneath said basket coaxially therewith; said support member havinga continuous annular surface and said assembly having a continuousannular upper surface both formed as spherical surface portions having acommon center on the axis of rotation of said basket, said supportmember surface being slidingly supported on said assembly upper surfacewhereby said moving system is tiltable on said assembly, said movingsystem extending down through said annular assembly and having its massdistributed low enough to cause its center of gravity always to fall ata point lower than said center of said spherical surface portions, saidhorizontal support surface and said assembly lower surfaces formingtogether a first liquid seal in said tub, said support member surfaceand said assembly upper surface forming together a second liquid seal insaid tub.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said tub is formed with saidhorizontal support surface substantially above the lowest part of saidtub, said tub having a substantial volume therein below said horizontalsupport surface.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said cabinet hassubstantially vertical side walls, said side walls forming the sides ofsaid imperforate tub.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said spherical surfaces areconcave relative to said basket.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said horizontal supportsurface and said assembly lower surface are formed of material providinga damping effect upon sliding of one surface on the other.

6. A vertical axi washing machine comprising: a floor mounted cabinethaving substantially vertical side walls forming an enclosure; a memberconnected to all of said side walls therewithin forming an imperforatetub within said cabinet, said member having a portion forming ahorizontal support surface in said tub; means for draining liquid fromsaid tub; an annular assembly having a continuous annular lower surfaceseated on said horizontal support surface in sliding relation thereto;means biasing said assembly to a substantially centered horizontalposition relative to said cabinet; and a moving system including asubstantially imperforate clothes basket positioned within said tub androtatable on a substantially vertical axis, said tub having an invertedfrusto-conical shape and having openings provided adjacent its top,means within said basket for washing clothes therein, drive meanspositioned below said basket and connected thereto, said drive meansbeing efiective alternatively to cause washing of clothes in said basketand to cause rotation of said basket to centrifuge liquid out of theclothes therein, and a support member positioned above said drive meansand below said basket coaxially therewith; said support member having acontinuous annular surface and said assembly having a continuous annularupper surface both formed as spherical surface portions having a commoncenter on the axis of rotation of said basket, said support membersurface being slidingly supported on said assembly upper surface wherebysaid moving system is tiltable on said assembly, said moving systemextending down through said annular assembly and having its massdistributed low enough to cause its center of gravity always to fall ata point lower than said center of said spherical surface portions, saidhorizontal support surface and said assembly lower surface formingtogether a first liquid seal in said tub, said support member surfaceand said assembly upper surface forming together a second liquid seal insaid tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,793,757 McWethy May 28, 1957

